Helene Montagna wrote an adaptation of the classic story that features the narrator as a daughter who is trying to take of her sick, elderly father but through an unexpected chain of events, ends up killing him instead.

"It was a challenging experience but interesting to interpret another writer's story," said Montagna. "If given the opportunity, I would do it again with intriguing source material."

The adaptation also features a doctor, who the narrator befriends and a nosy police officer as the narrator's neighbor, who is convinced something is wrong with the house and wants to prove it.

In the beginning of each performance, an actor that is not part of the cast will read Poe's poem "Annabel Lee." Each performance will feature a new "guest" reader.

"I used a lot of Poe language in the play, and I have a lot of actor friends," said Montagna. "I thought it was a good introduction into the play."

-- Seaview Playwright Theatrepresents "The Tell-Tale Heart" runs Dec. 4-6, and again Dec. 11-13 (8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, 3 p.m. on Sundays) at The Chapel Theatre on the grounds of Sea View Hospital Rehab & Home, 460 Brielle Ave. Tickets are $22 each, $20 for senior and students and they can be bought at the door twenty minutes before show time.